Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018

Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Social Services and Public Health. Following a change in ministerial portfolios in November 2017, the First Minister authorised Vaughan Gething MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, as the new Member in Charge of the Bill, from 9 November 2017. The Business Committee remitted the Bill to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.

 

About the Bill

 

The Bill provides for a minimum price for the sale and supply of alcohol in Wales by certain persons and makes it an offence for alcohol to be sold or supplied below that price.

 

The Bill includes provision for:

  • the formula for calculating the applicable minimum price for alcohol by multiplying the percentage strength of the alcohol, its volume and the minimum unit price (MUP);
  • powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation to specify the MUP;
  • the establishment of a local authority-led enforcement regime with powers to bring prosecutions;
  • powers of entry for authorised officers of a local authority, an offence of obstructing an authorised officer and the power to issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs).

 

The Bill proposes the MUP would be specified in regulations. However, for the purpose of assessing impacts and the associated costs and benefits, the Explanatory Memorandum uses a 50p MUP as an example.

 

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 2MB).

 

Current Stage

 

BillStageAct

 

Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act (external website) became law in Wales (external website) on 9 August 2018.

 

Record of Passage in the National Assembly for Wales

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the National Assembly for Wales.

 

Stage

Documents

Bill introduced: 23 October 2017

Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill, as introduced (PDF 126KB)

 

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 2MB)

 

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 23 October 2017 (PDF 127KB)

 

Business Committee - Timetable for consideration of the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill (PDF 54KB)

 

Revised Business Committee – Timetable for consideration of the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill (PDF 56KB)

 

Welsh Government: Statement of Policy Intent for Subordinate Legislation (PDF 519KB)

 

Draft Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) Bill (external website)

 

Stage 1: Committee considerations of general principles

Public consultation

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee issued a call for evidence, which closed on 15 December 2017.

 

Committee dates

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

25 October 2017

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)

(Private)

(Private)

09 November 2017

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services

Cancelled

 

23 November 2017

Oral evidence sessions

23 November transcript

View the meeting of 23 November

29 November 2017

Oral evidence sessions

29 November transcript

View the meeting of 29 November

13 December 2017

Oral evidence sessions

13 December transcript

View the meeting of 13 December

11 January 2018

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services

11 January transcript

View the meeting of 11 January

 

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

27 November 2017

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services

27 November transcript

View the meeting of 27 November

 

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

15 November 2017

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)

(private)

(private)

7 December 2017

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services

7 December transcript

View the meeting of 7 December

 

Ministerial correspondence

Following the cancellation of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 9 November 2017, the Committee wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services. The Cabinet Secretary responded on 14 November.

Letter from the Chair of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – 11 December 2017 (PDF 84KB)

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – 12 December 2017 (PDF 186 KB)

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Chair of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee – 19 December 2017 (PDF 383KB)

Letter from the Chair of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – 20 December 2017 (PDF 118KB)

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Chair of the Finance Committee - 21 December 2017 (PDF 913 KB)

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – 21 December 2017 (PDF 237 KB)

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Chair of the Finance Committee - 9 February 2018   (PDF 191 KB)

 

Report

The Finance Committee laid its report on 28 February 2018 (PDF, 589KB).

Response by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's Stage 1 Report – 28 March 2018 (PDF, 160KB)

Letter from the Chair of the Finance Committee to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance – 17 April 2018 (PDF, 178KB)

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee laid its report on 5 March 2018. (PDF, 1MB)

Response by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's Stage 1 Report – 28 March 2018

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee laid its report on 5 March 2018. (PDF, 715KB)

Response by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Finance Committee's Stage 1 Report – 28 March 2018. (PDF, 160 KB)

 

Stage 1: Debate in Plenary on general principles

A debate took place in Plenary on 13 March 2018. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

Financial Resolution

A Financial Resolution was agreed in Plenary on 13 March 2018.

Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

Stage 2: Committee consideration of amendments

Stage 2 began on 14 March 2018

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee agreed on 15 March 2018, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings will be: Sections 1 to 9; Schedule 1; Sections 10 to 29; Long title.

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on Thursday 3 May 2018.

Notice of Amendments

Notice of Amendments – 9 April 2018

Notice of Amendments – 25 April 2018

Marshalled List of Amendments – 3 May 2018

Groupings of Amendments – 3 May 2018

 

Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill, unamended at Stage 2

Revised Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 2MB)

 

Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Chair of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee - 22 May 2018 (PDF 415 KB)

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Chairs of the Health, Social care and Sport and Finance Committees – 1 June 2018 (PDF 297KB)

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services to the Chair of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee – 11 June 2018 (2 MB)

Stage 3: Plenary consideration of amendments

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 4 May 2018.

 

The National Assembly for Wales agreed on 5 June 2018, under Standing Order 26.36, that the order of consideration for Stage 3 proceedings will be: Sections 1 to 9; Schedule 1; Sections 10 to 29; Long title.

 

Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 12 June 2018.

 

Notice of Amendments

Notice of Amendments – 5 June 2018

Marshalled List of Amendments – 12 June 2018 (PDF 78 KB)

Groupings of Amendments – 12 June 2018 (PDF 64 KB)

 

Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill, as amended at Stage 3 (PDF 143KB) (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by side-lining in the right margin.)

 

 

Stage 4: Passing of the Bill in Plenary

The Bill was agreed by the Assembly on 19 June 2018.

 

Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill, as passed (PDF 143 KB)

Printing changes to the Bill as passed (PDF 135 KB)

Post-stage 4

The Solicitor General (PDF 31KB), on behalf of the Attorney General, Counsel General (PDF 190KB) and Secretary of State for Wales (PDF 30KB) wrote to the Presiding Officer to advise that they would not be referring the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 or 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

Date of Royal Assent

Royal Assent (PDF 72KB) was given on 9 August 2018.

 

Contact information

Phone: 0300 200 6565

 

Postal address:

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff     CF99 1NA

 

Email: Legislation@Senedd.Wales

 

Business type: Bill

Reason considered: Government Business;

Status: Complete

First published: 17/10/2017

Documents

Consultations